FOOTBALL

Allen and Brown named to 2018 Associated Press FCS All-American team

Dec 11, 2018

CHARLESTON, S.C. - James Allen and Solomon Brown were named to the 2018 Associated Press FCS All-American team as announced on Tuesday afternoon. The Buccaneers' defensive duo were two of five players from the Big South Conference to receive recognition from the AP this season.

Allen (Second Team) and Brown (Third Team) earned recognition from the AP for the first time in their respective collegiate careers. The duo was joined by Kennesaw State's Chandler Burks (QB, Third Team) and C.J. Collins (OL, Second Team), and Monmouth's Reggie White Jr. (WR, Third Team).

Allen put together one of the best seasons by a defensive back in Big South Conference history on his way to earning First Team honors. Allen led the Big South with six interceptions and returned a CSU and conference-record three for touchdowns in 2018.

He is currently tied for the FCS lead in pick-sixes on the year and is fifth in FCS in passes defended with 1.5 per game. Allen saved his best game of the season for his final conference game recording three interceptions and returned one 52 yards for a score in CSU's 12-7 win over Campbell.

Brown became just the third player in Big South history to reach 50.0 career tackles behind the line of scrimmage in his final season. He led the Big South with 17.0 tackles for loss, averaging 1.55 per game on the year. Brown finished fifth overall in the conference with 8.0 tackles per game, outpacing all the conference's defensive linemen by 3.9 tackles per game.

He wrapped up his collegiate career with a career-high 5.5 tackles for loss in the regular season finale against The Citadel. His total matched the Big South and CSU's single-season effort joining Gardner-Webb's Brian Johnston (53.5 TFL, 2004-07) and CSU's Anthony Ellis (51.5, 2014-17).

Allen's recognition marked the third consecutive season the Buccaneers have had a defensive player selected to the Second Team. Ellis previously received recognition following both the 2016 and 2017 seasons. It also marked just the third time CSU has had a defensive back recognized to the AP All-American team joining Charles James (2010, Second Team) and Phillip Ashley (2008, Third Team).

Brown's recognition marked his second All-American honors after being named to the STATS LLC Third Team following the 2016 season. It marked the third consecutive season a CSU defensive lineman received recognition from the association.